Fence Post Concrete Extractor Device

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates generally to a fence post concrete extractor device that is comprised of a frame, a primary frame member, a winch assembly and a motor. The frame of the device is preferably sturdy, such that it can support the weight of the device and the concrete fence post. The winch assembly penetrates the rotted fence post using a motor and expands inside, allowing it to remove the rotted fence post from the ground. In this manner, the device can be applied to automatically remove rotted fence posts from the ground, wherein an abundance of manual labor would otherwise be necessary.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/149,452, which was filed on Feb. 15, 2021 and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of fence post extractors. More specifically, the present invention relates to a fence post concrete extractor device that is comprised of a frame, a primary frame member, a winch assembly and a motor. The winch assembly penetrates the rotted fence post using a motor and expands inside, allowing it to remove the rotted fence post from the ground. In this manner, the device can be applied to automatically remove rotted fence posts from the ground, wherein an abundance of manual labor would otherwise be necessary. Accordingly, the present disclosure makes specific reference thereto. Nonetheless, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equally applicable to other like applications, devices and methods of manufacture.

BACKGROUND

Fence posts are typically held in place by being cemented into the ground with a concrete base, which keeps the fence sturdy against wind and other factors. However, this base makes the removal of a fence post very difficult because it adds a great amount of weight to the fence post. If a fence post is rotted, the removal is even more difficult, as there may not be a sturdy point to hoist the fence post out of the ground without proper equipment. Additionally, an individual must dig deep into the ground, commonly three feet around the concrete base, and manually extract the post upwards out of the ground. This kind of work can be incredibly difficult, time-consuming, expensive, exhausting and potentially dangerous. As a result, serious injuries may occur when attempting to remove a cemented fence post out of the ground manually, with a shovel.

Therefore, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a fence post concrete extractor device. There also exists a long-felt need in the art for a device that minimizes the labor and effort required in extracting a previously cemented fence post from the ground. Further, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a fence post concrete extractor device that is easily transportable and powered by a single individual. In addition, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a device that reduces the likelihood of serious injuries, while attempting to remove a rotted fence post.

The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a fence post concrete extractor device. The device is comprised of a frame, a primary frame member, a winch assembly and a motor. The frame of the device is preferably sturdy, such that it can support the weight of the device and the concrete fence post. The device is also comprised of a winch assembly that can penetrate rotted fence posts and provide enough force to remove a concrete fence post from the ground via a cable powered by a motor. In this manner, the device can be used to easily remove rotted fence posts from the ground, wherein an abundance of manual labor would otherwise be necessary.

In this manner, the fence post concrete extractor device of the present invention accomplishes all the forgoing objectives and provides a means to remove a concrete fence post safely and efficiently. Further, the device may be easily transported, such that a single person may move and operate the device. In addition, the device removes many physical dangers, such as exhaustion, while removing concrete fence posts.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some general concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a fence post concrete extractor device that reduces the amount of physical strain when removing a rotted fence post that has been solidified underground with concrete. The device is primarily comprised of a frame, a primary frame member, a winch assembly and a motor. In differing embodiments, the frame may have the appearance of many different frame styles, so long as it is sturdy enough to support the device. The frame may also be made of a plurality of metals that may be commonly used for making construction equipment. In addition, any surface of the frame may be comprised of a plurality of indicia, such as patterns, logos, emblems, images, symbols, designs, letters, words, characters, animals, advertisements, brands, etc.

The frame is also comprised of two main members: a primary frame member and a support leg. The primary frame member is further comprised of horizontal and vertical members that may be either rigid or foldable or collapsible to aid in storage. A handle attached to the top of the primary frame member allows a user to grip the device, such that at least two wheels attached to the bottom of the primary frame member may roll across the ground for transportation. The support leg helps hold the device steady while in operation. The support leg is attached to the frame using at least one hinge, allowing the device to widen or narrow to create a stable base. Attached to the bottom of the support leg is a foot that can rotate, using at least one hinge to maintain maximum contact with the ground.

A winch assembly is located between the primary frame member and the support leg. A frame supporting the winch assembly connects both the primary frame member and the support leg on opposite sides. A cable extends down from the housing of the winch assembly. The end of the cable is attached to a rod. Attached to the other end of the rod is an expansion tip that ensures the rod does not slip out of the rotted fence post when extracting it from the ground. Further, the winch assembly may be operated manually or automatically. A handle extends outwards and may be cranked to pull the fence post out of the ground manually. To operate the device automatically, a button may be pressed which starts a motor that cranks the fence post out of the ground. The motor is powered by a battery that may be powered by a solar panel on the surface of the winch assembly.

Accordingly, the fence post concrete extractor device of the present invention is particularly advantageous as it provides a means to remove a concrete fence post safely and efficiently. Further, the device may be automatic, removing many physical dangers associated with removing concrete fence posts from the ground. In addition, the device may be safely and easily transported and operated by a single person. In this manner, the fence post concrete extractor device overcomes the limitations of existing fence post extractors known in the art.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of a fence post concrete extractor device of the present invention being used to extract a rotted fence post from a ground surface in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

FIG. 2 illustrates a side perspective view of one potential embodiment of the fence post concrete extractor device of the present invention being used to extract a rotted fence post from a ground surface in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

FIG. 3 illustrates an enhanced perspective view of one potential embodiment of a rod with an expansion tip in a closed position in one potential embodiment of the fence post concrete extractor device of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture; and

FIG. 4 illustrates an enhanced perspective view of one potential embodiment of a rod with an expansion tip in an opened position in one potential embodiment of the fence post concrete extractor device of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined.

As noted above, there is a long-felt need in the art for a fence post concrete extractor device. There also exists a long-felt need in the art for a device that minimizes the labor and effort involved in extracting a previously cemented fence post from the ground. Further, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a fence post concrete extractor device that is easily transportable and powered by a single adult individual. In addition, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a device that reduces the likelihood of serious injuries, while attempting to remove a rotted fence post.

The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is comprised of a fence post concrete extractor device that reduces the amount of physical strain when removing a rotted fence post that has been solidified underground with concrete. The device is primarily comprised of a frame, a primary frame member, a winch assembly and a motor. In differing embodiments, the frame may have the appearance of many different frame styles, so long as it is sturdy enough to support the device. The frame may also be made of a plurality of metals that may be commonly used for making construction equipment. In addition, any surface of the frame may be comprised of a plurality of indicia, such as patterns, logos, emblems, images, symbols, designs, letters, words, characters, animals, advertisements, brands, etc.

Further, the frame has a primary frame member comprised of both vertical and horizontal members for support. The vertical and horizontal members may be made of a plurality of shapes, such as tubular or square. The primary frame member may also be rigid or collapsible/foldable for storage purposes. Attached to one end of the primary frame member is a handle used for easily transporting the device and the winch assembly. Attached to the other end are at least two wheels for transporting the device. The wheels may be fixedly or removably-attached to the primary frame member and may have a locking feature to hold the device in place and prevent movement. A support leg is attached to the other side of the winch assembly. The support leg helps to hold the device steady by widening its base via at least one hinge. Attached to the other end of the support leg is a foot. At least one hinge allows the foot to be positioned according to uneven terrain. The bottom surface of the foot may be textured in a way to provide additional resistance to movement.

The winch assembly of the device is comprised of a frame that attaches both the primary frame member and the support leg. A cable extends from the winch assembly down towards the ground, where a fence post would be located. The cable is fixedly or removably attached to a rod at its end, wherein the rod is capable of inserting into a fence post. Specifically, the end of the rod is comprised of an expansion tip that expands inside the post, when the device attempts to extract the concrete fence post from the ground. The expansion tip expands when axial tension in the cable and rod increases, signifying the fence post is being extracted. Further, the winch assembly may be operated manually by cranking a handle or automatically by pressing a button. In differing embodiments, only one of these methods, manual or automatic, may be present. Inside the housing of the winch assembly, the cable is wrapped around a pulley, such that it may be cranked to make the rod go up and down. Additionally, a motor is attached to the pulley to crank the machine automatically. A battery may power the motor. The battery may be replaceable or rechargeable. The device may also be powered by a solar panel on the exterior surface of the winch assembly.

Accordingly, the fence post concrete extractor device of the present invention is particularly advantageous, as it provides a means to remove a concrete fence post safely and efficiently. Further, the device may be transported and operated without the need of assistance from someone else. In addition, the device may remove many physical dangers associated with removing concrete fence posts from the ground, by automatically extracting them without additional manpower. Therefore, the fence post concrete extractor device overcomes the limitations of existing fence post extractors known in the art.

Referring initially to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of the fence post concrete extractor device 100 of the present invention being used to extract a rotted fence post 10 with concrete 12 (shown as prior art) from a ground surface 14. The device 100 is primarily comprised of a frame 110, a primary frame member 120, a winch assembly 150 and a motor 170. In differing embodiments, the frame 110 may have the appearance of many different frame styles, such as an A-frame, a K-frame, a triangular frame, a rectangular frame or other suitable frame types sturdy enough to support the device 100. The frame 110 may also be made of a plurality of metals or metal alloys, such as but not limited to: steel, aluminum, titanium, iron, copper, nickel, brass, etc., or any other suitable material as is known in the art. In addition, any surface of the frame 110 may be comprised of a plurality of indicia, such as patterns, logos, emblems, images, symbols, designs, letters, words, characters, animals, advertisements, brands, etc.

In the preferred embodiment of the device 100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the frame 110 is comprised of a primary frame member 120 and at least one support leg 140. The primary frame member 120 is further comprised of at least one vertical member 122 and at least one horizontal member 124 to support the device 100. The frame 110 and all components may be made of beams, columns, angled sections, circular hollow sections, rectangular hollow sections, square hollow sections, tubular sections, square sections, solid sections of the shapes previously mentioned, etc., or any other suitable components as are known in the art. In addition, these members 122, 124 may be collapsible/foldable for storage purposes or transportability, or the members 122, 124 may be rigid. Attached to one end of the primary frame member 120 are at least two wheels 130 which allow the device to be easily transported. The wheels 130 may be fixedly or removably-attached to the primary frame member 120, and may be made of a material capable of rolling on uneven terrain, with a locking feature to prevent movement while the device 100 is in use. A handle 180 is attached to the other end of the primary frame member 120 to aid the user in transporting the device 100.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of one embodiment of the fence post concrete extractor device 100 of the present invention being used to extract a rotted fence post 10 with concrete 12 (shown as prior art) from a ground surface 14. The end of the primary frame member 120 that is comprised of the handle 180 is fixedly or removably-attached to a frame 152 of a winch assembly 150. The frame 152 also attaches to a support leg 140 on its opposite end. The support leg 140 is made of the same material with the same shape as the primary frame member 120. At least one hinge 142 allows the support leg 140 to be repositioned, such that the device 100 may be stabilized to decrease movement. In differing embodiments, the hinge 142 may have locking points at different degrees of angular rotation to further help stabilize the support leg 140. The opposite end of the support leg 140 is comprised of at least one foot 144. An at least one hinge 146 allows the foot 144 to be repositioned, such that the support leg 140 may be stabilized. The foot 144 may be made from a plurality of materials, such as plastic, wood, metal, etc., but is preferably made of rubber to increase grip. The bottom surface 148 of the foot 144 may be textured, such as a tread, to aid in gripping the ground 14.

FIGS. 3-4 illustrate an enhanced perspective view of one embodiment of a rod 162 with an expansion tip 164 in a closed and opened position respectively for the fence post concrete extractor device 100 of the present invention. The winch assembly 150 is further comprised of a cable 160 wrapped around a pulley in a housing 154, wherein the cable 160 can extend downwards towards the ground 14 and away from the housing 154. The cable 160 may be a metal braided cable 160 or a rope of a material such as, but not limited to, hemp, linen, cotton, straw, sisal, polypropylene, nylon, polyesters, polyethylene, aramids, acrylics, etc., or any other suitable material as is known in the art. Attached to the end of the cable 160 is a metal rod 162. The rod 162 may be fixedly or removably-attached to the cable 160. An expansion tip 164 of the same material as the rod 162 is attached to the opposite end of the rod 162. The expansion tip 164 can then be inserted into a rotted fence post 10 in a closed position. The expansion tip 164 will remain in a closed position until an upward force through the cable 160 and rod 162 forces the expansion tip 164 to open (as best seen in FIG. 4). In this open position, the expansion tip 164 prevents the rod 162 from slipping out of the rotted fence post 10.

In differing embodiments, the winch assembly 150 may be operated manually by cranking a handle 158 or automatically by pressing at least one button 156. Both the handle 158 and the button 156 may be fixed on the outside of the housing 154 of the winch assembly 150. The housing 154 also contains the electrical components of the device 100, which includes but is not limited to, a motor 170, a battery 172 and at least one solar panel 174. The motor 170 automatically powers the winch assembly 150 to extract the rotted fence post 10 from the ground 14, after the rod 162 has been attached within the post 10. The battery 172 further powers the motor 170. The battery 172 may be a disposable battery 172 or a rechargeable battery 172 in the form of an alkaline, nickel-cadmium, nickel-metal hydride battery 172, etc., such as any 3V-12 volts DC battery 172 or other conventional battery 172 such as A, AA, AAA, etc., that can supply power to the device. Throughout this specification the term “battery” may be used interchangeably to refer to one or more wet or dry cells or batteries 172 of cells in which chemical energy is converted into electricity and used as a source of DC power. References to recharging or replacing the battery 172 may refer to recharging or replacing individual cells, individual batteries 172 of cells, or a package of multiple battery 172 cells as is appropriate for any given battery 172 technology that may be used. In the embodiment of a rechargeable battery 172, a solar panel 174 on the housing 154 of the winch assembly 150 may be used to recharge the battery 172. In addition, the solar panel 174 may be comprised of, but is not limited to, monocrystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon, or a thin-film that contains any number of photovoltaic cells, etc.

In a further embodiment, a hole or opening may be drilled through the center of a rotten post retained in. Then, a toggle bolt end attached to the cable may be inserted through the opening and out of the bottom of the post/concrete. The toggle bolt, or a rod with a toggle bolt end, can then butterfly out under the post/concrete in the ground to assist in extracting the same.

Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein “fence post concrete extractor device” and “device” are interchangeable and refer to the fence post concrete extractor device 100 of the present invention.

Notwithstanding the forgoing, the fence post concrete extractor device 100 of the present invention and its various components can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that they accomplish the above-stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the size, configuration and material of the fence post concrete extractor device 100 as shown in FIGS. 1-4 is for illustrative purposes only, and that many other sizes and shapes of the fence post concrete extractor device 100 are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the fence post concrete extractor device 100 are important design parameters for user convenience, the fence post concrete extractor device 100 may be of any size, shape and/or configuration that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user's needs and/or preferences.

Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.

What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A fence post concrete extractor device used to extract a fence post from a ground surface comprising: a primary frame member comprising at least one vertical frame member and at least one horizontal member for support; at least two wheels attached to a first end of the primary frame member; a handle attached to a second end of the primary frame member for transporting the fence post concrete extractor device; a winch assembly secured to a frame which is attached to the second end of the primary frame member, wherein the frame also attaches to at least one support leg on an opposite end; a cable connected to the winch assembly; a rod with an expansion tip connected to the cable for contacting the rotted fence post in the ground surface; a motor for powering the winch assembly; and a battery for powering the motor.
 2. The fence post concrete extractor device of claim 1, wherein the rod with the expansion tip is inserted into the fence post that is within the ground surface.
 3. The fence post concrete extractor device of claim 2, wherein the winch assembly pulls the cable upwards to pull the fence post out of the ground surface.
 4. A fence post concrete extractor device used to extract a fence post from a ground surface comprising: a frame comprised of a primary frame member comprising at least one vertical frame member, at least one horizontal member, and at least one support leg attached to the primary frame member via at least one hinge; at least two wheels attached to a first end of the primary frame member; a handle attached to a second end of the primary frame member for transporting the fence post concrete extractor device; a winch assembly comprised of a housing which is secured to a frame which is attached to the second end of the primary frame member, wherein the frame also attaches to at least one support leg on an opposite end; a cable connected to the winch assembly; a rod with an expansion tip connected to the cable for inserting into the fence post that is within the ground surface, such that the winch assembly can pull the cable upwards to pull the fence post out of the ground surface, wherein after the rod is inserted into the fence post and the cable is pulled upward, the expansion tip opens to prevent the rod from slipping out of the fence post; a motor for powering the winch assembly; and a battery for powering the motor.
 5. The fence post concrete extractor device of claim 4, wherein the battery can be recharged via at least one solar panel.
 6. The fence post concrete extractor device of claim 4, wherein the winch assembly comprises a handle that allows a user to manually operate the winch assembly.
 7. The fence post concrete extractor device of claim 4, wherein the winch assembly can be operated via at least one button located on the housing which controls the motor.
 8. A fence post concrete extractor device that can be used to extract a fence post from a ground surface, the fence post concrete extractor device comprising: a frame having a primary frame member comprising at least one vertical frame member, at least one horizontal member, at least two wheels attached to a first end of the primary frame member, a handle, and at least one support leg attached to the primary frame member via at least one hinge, wherein the at least one support leg comprises a foot; a winch assembly comprised of a housing that is secured to a second end of the primary frame member, wherein the frame also attaches to the at least one support leg; a cable connected to the winch assembly; a rod with an expansion tip connected to the cable; a motor that powers the winch assembly; and a battery that powers the motor.
 9. The fence post concrete extractor device of claim 8, wherein the rod with an expansion tip can be inserted into the fence post within the ground surface, such that the winch assembly can pull the cable upwards to pull the fence post out of the ground surface.
 10. The fence post concrete extractor device of claim 9, wherein after the rod is inserted into the fence post and the cable is pulled upward, the expansion tip opens to prevent the rod from slipping out of the fence post.
 11. The fence post concrete extractor device of claim 8, wherein the frame is a select one of an A-frame, a K-frame, a triangular frame or a rectangular frame.
 12. The fence post concrete extractor device of claim 8, wherein the cable is a metal braided cable.
 13. The fence post concrete extractor device of claim 8, wherein the winch assembly comprises a handle that allows a user to manually operate the winch assembly.
 14. The fence post concrete extractor device of claim 8, wherein the winch assembly can be operated via at least one button located on the housing which controls the motor.
 15. The fence post concrete extractor device of claim 8, wherein the frame is manufactured from a metal material.
 16. The fence post concrete extractor device of claim 8, wherein the frame is comprised of a plurality of indicia.
 17. The fence post concrete extractor device of claim 8, wherein the at least one hinge allows the at least one support leg to be repositioned to stabilize the fence post concrete extractor device on the ground surface.
 18. The fence post concrete extractor device of claim 17, wherein the at least one hinge has a plurality of locking points.
 19. The fence post concrete extractor device of claim 8, wherein the battery can be recharged via at least one solar panel.
 20. The fence post concrete extractor device of claim 8, wherein the at least two wheels comprise a locking feature. 